Colm Horkan has been dead for over six years, but in the immaculately kept family bungalow in Charlestown, Co. Mayo, his presence is everywhere.
On the walls and around the house are pictures and memorabilia, including a photo of Colm in Templemore on his passing out day alongside Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was also shot and killed in the line of duty.
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who → keep → duty
In the front room, the family have a simple, glass-fronted cabinet, where they keep Colm’s medals and awards, his Garda hat and epaulettes bearing his unique Garda shoulder number, RL 255, and the tricolour that was draped over his coffin at his State funeral.
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that → have → funeral
These treasured mementos tell of a life of service to the Republic – and to the local GAA football team.
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mementos → treasure → team
Both are a source of immense pride for his surviving Horkan siblings and their father.
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Both → survive → siblings
Like Colm was a very quiet man,’ Colm’s brother Dermot tells the Irish Mail on Sunday.
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brother → tell → Sunday
As he speaks, with his sister Deirdre and brother Padraig looking on and helping him with some details, it is obvious how much Colm was beloved in this large, traditional Irish family.
And the 63 pages of moving condolences for Colm Horkan on rip.ie are a testament to how much he was treasured by his wider community, too.
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he → speak → community
Colm Horkan's brother Dermot Horkan, sits beside a display case containing mementos from Garda Colm Horkan's career as a Garda
‘
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brother → sit → Garda
We’re from Charlestown, Co. Mayo.
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We → ’re → Charlestown
We were all reared in a pub down in the centre of town, the seven of us.
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We → rear → us
It’s called the Dewdrop Inn.
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It → call → ?
'That’s where we were born.
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we → ’ → ?
They were born up the street,’ says Dermot, pointing to his siblings.
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Dermot → bear → siblings
‘We all lived in The Square.
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We → live → Square
We worked in the bar.
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We → work → bar
Our parents sold the bar because the older three had gone to America.’
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three → sell → America
Dermot explains: ‘There were two sets of twins.
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Dermot → explain → twins
She got cancer in the States, and she died.
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she → get → States
Aidan passed away unfortunately [in September 2023] and then Padraig is the youngest.
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Padraig → pass → September
And Colm had applied for the Guards, so there was going to be nobody left to work in the bar.
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Colm → apply → bar
So they sold it.
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they → sell → it
‘My mother had been unwell, and they sold the bar, and Colm joined the Guards.
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Colm → sell → Guards
He was, you know, he was straight.
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he → know → ?
The photo was taken in 1995 in Templemore Garda Training College
‘There was no messing with him, and he did everything by the letter of the law.
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he → take → law
‘When we were younger and you were getting a report from school, you were never afraid of my father.
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you → get → father
You were afraid of Colm because he was, you know, he was the father figure for us.
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he → know → us
‘Colm was exceptional at everything he did.
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he → do → everything
He didn’t drink till he was about 25.
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he → drink → ?
'He was very straight, but everybody loved him.
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everybody → love → him
But what he said went, that was it.
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that → say → what
If he gave you a bit of advice, you took it.
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you → give → it
‘We all went to him for advice.
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We → go → advice
‘But when our sister Colette was dying in States, he went over.
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he → die → States
‘He got his own room all his life; the rest of us had to share a room.
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rest → get → room
There was seven of us but Colm always had his own room,’
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Colm → be → room
says Dermot, laughing fondly.
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Dermot → say → ?
‘He was the, you know…if you woke up in the middle of the night and went up to mum and dad, you’d be told go down to Colm, and you’d get into bed with Colm.
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you → know → Colm
He would give you the best advice and put you on the straightest road.’
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He → give → road
A display case containing mementos from Garda Colm Horkan's career as a Garda
Colm first worked as a fireman, a role which remained, his family say, his ‘first love’.
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family → contain → role
‘He was 23 when he joined the Guards, and then he was 25 when he passed out,’ Dermot continues.
‘He had been in the fire brigade prior to that, locally.
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He → join → that
When he worked in the bar, he was in the fire brigade as well.’
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he → work → brigade
…and 80 more, not listed.
The Aporia
